Over 300 Maoist supporters surrender en masse in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Malkangiri, Sep 18:

In yet another massive blow to the Maoist movement in Odisha, around 390 Red supporters today surrendered to the Malkangiri police.

As per reports, around 390 Maoist supporters from seven villages under Materu panchayat in Podia block in the district took out a huge rally through the town and finally culminated at the police headquarters here.

The villagers– including 49 militia members and two village committee members—reached the police headquarters and surrendered to it.

The Malkangiri SP said the surrendered villagers would be provided assistance in line with the rehabilitation policy of the state government.

“The villagers namely Ramaguda, Netaguda, Bondaguda, Karamguda, Madiguda from Materu panchayat surrendered before the police today. Around 390 villagers, including 49 militia members and two village committee members, surrendered to the police. The militia and village committee members would be provided assistance as per government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy. The district administration would look into the developmental issues and work on it expeditiously. We welcome this step and urge other militia members to surrender and join the mainstream,” Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said.

Meanwhile, the Maoists have called for Malkangiri bandh on September 25, in protest against the series of recent surrenders in the district.